Baseball: Rogers must rest
Kenny Rogers was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a tired arm, a move that makes Chad Durbin the Detroit Tigers’ fifth starter.
The move, retroactive to Sunday, sends Rogers to the DL for the first time since 2001. Manager Jim Leyland said Rogers will miss one start.
“Number one, you’re concerned about Kenny Rogers and make sure he’s OK. The other part will take care of itself. We’ll march on and hopefully this won’t be a very long period of time,” Leyland said before Detroit’s 3-1 win over the Houston Astros. “This is part of it. I don’t want to downplay the significance of his contributions and how good he is. At the same time, we have to go on. Our concern is about Kenny’s welfare.”
Angels extend Shields
Los Angeles Angels reliever Scot Shields agreed to a $14.6 million, three-year contract extension through 2010.
Shields, the Angels’ setup man, had agreed last month to a $3.4 million, one-year contract. The new deal adds salaries of $4.25 million in 2008, $5 million in 2009 and $5.35 million in 2010.
The 31-year-old right-hander was 7-7 last season with two saves and a 2.87 ERA in 74 games, the fourth-most appearances in the American League. It was the second-highest games total in franchise history behind his 78 in 2005.
Shields pitched 87 2/3 innings last year, and his 284 2/3 innings over the past three seasons are the most among major league relievers.
“The Angels also announced that Troy Percival, their career saves leader, will sign a minor league contract before Monday’s season opener against Texas and immediately retire – as a member of the Angels. Percival then will throw out the honorary first pitch.
Cortesio performs well
Ria Cortesio hustled all over the infield and made her calls with an emphatic fist pump. Always in the right position, she did what every umpire hopes to do during a ballgame: She blended in.
Cortesio became the first female umpire to work a major league exhibition game since Pam Postema in 1989 when she made calls on the bases as the Chicago Cubs beat an Arizona Diamondbacks split squad 7-4 at Mesa, Ariz.
Her performance before a HoHoKam Park record crowd of 12,917 was much like the sunny 64-degree day. It was flawless.
Cortesio is the only female umpire in professional baseball. At 30, she is starting her ninth year overall.
Mitchell seeks interviews
Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell has asked to start player interviews as part of his steroids probe and expects to complete his investigation in the “coming months.”
“In the course of our work, we have conducted hundreds of interviews of individuals with current or past connections to baseball, including many former players,” Mitchell said. “I have just recently requested that interviews of current players begin promptly. This is one of the final phases of the investigation and obviously will be significant, especially since, as I have previously said, the principal victims of the illegal use of performance-enhancing substances by some players are the majority of players who don’t use them.”
Clearing the bases
Oakland Athletics first baseman Dan Johnson will begin the season on the disabled list after being diagnosed with torn cartilage in his left hip, manager Bob Geren said. Johnson was injured Monday in a collision at first with Colorado’s Yorvit Torrealba. He was originally diagnosed with a strained hip flexor and listed as day to day, but additional tests revealed the tear. … The Arizona Diamondbacks designated outfielder Dave Krynzel for assignment. … Eric Gagne will start the season on the disabled list for the Texas Rangers, a move the team is making to give the closer more time to come back from elbow and back operations. Akinori Otsuka, who converted 32 of 36 save chances last season, will handle the closing duties until Gagne returns. … Texas placed lefty John Rheinecker and infielder Joaquin Arias on the DL. Outfielder Jason Botts was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma, and infielder Ramon Vazquez was reassigned to minor league camp. … Reliever Dan Miceli‘s bid to win Tampa Bay’s closer job ended when the 36-year-old right-hander was released. Manager Joe Maddon has said he would be comfortable with filling the closer role by committee. … Infielder Todd Walker cleared waivers, and the players’ union plans to file a grievance over his release from the San Diego Padres. Walker was waived Tuesday, a little more than a month after he won a $3.95 million salary in arbitration. Because the contract wasn’t guaranteed, the Padres will owe Walker 45 days’ termination pay – $971,311 – rather than the entire salary. The Padres said it was a baseball decision, and that Walker’s salary didn’t factor into the decision. … The Minnesota Twins parted ways with once-promising pitcher J.D. Durbin, and the self-proclaimed “Real Deal” was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Twins also reassigned outfielder Josh Rabe to minor league camp. … Colorado Rockies reliever Tom Martin was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained left groin. … Left-hander Bobby Livingston, who was competing for the fifth spot in the Cincinnati Reds’ rotation, was optioned to Triple-A Louisville along with reliever Gary Majewski. Also, a medical test on outfielder Chris Denorfia detected a torn ligament in his throwing elbow. Denorfia will have reconstructive surgery and be sidelined for about six months.